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Bill banning executive rule-making advances in Minn. Senate

A Minnesota Senate panel on Thursday approved a measure to halt executive branch rule-making for two years to try to ease the government regulatory burden on businesses.

Under the legislation, state agencies could not adopt any new rules unless it's in direct response to an emergency, or related to a federal law. The Senate Committee on Jobs and Economic Growth advanced the bill on a divided voice vote. It now goes to the state government committee.

Republican Senator Ted Lillie of Lake Elmo said businesses need some relief from state rules.

"One of the biggest problems that they're facing is that they don't know what the rules are, that they keep changing," Lillie said. "That impacts their ability to invest in their companies."

Several Democrats on the committee, as well as some state agency heads, raised concerns about the proposed moratorium.